Pontoon boat construction



Feb. 11, 1969 A. TTTTTTTTT TH 3,426,716

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ON Filed July 28, 1967 Feb.11,1969 THACKW RTH 3,426,716

PONTOON BOAT CONSTRUCTION Filed July 28, 1967 Sheet 2 of 5 FIG. 2.

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1969 A. T. HACKWORTH PONTOON BOAT CONSTRUCTION Sheet Filed July 28, 1967 JNVENTOR. 4/1 0654 77 HACK/V0673? BY fi/wmv nc u,

United States Patent f 3,426,716 PONTOON BoAT CONSTRUCTION Int. Cl. 363i] 3/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A boat construction having a plurality of generally flat deck plates supported on buoyant pontoon assemblies. The pontoon assemblies are held together in spaced relation by tie rods removably received in aligned pocketforming brackets secured to the facing sides of the pontoon assemblies. The deck plates include opposed, depending arcuate flanges which are snap-fitted into complemental tubes in axial alignment on the pontoon assemblies and tie rods. Expanded rubber stock further clamp the arcuate flanges on the deck plates in their supporting tubes and render the joints water-tight. A center beam assembly consisting of upright, braced walls are connected to the deck plates, tie rods, and pontoon assemblies to rigidity the construction.

This invention relates to a boat construction, and more particularly, to a raft structure supported on floats or pontoons.

With the increase in popularity of water sports, the need has arisen for specially designed water craft, which are safe in operation, economically simple in design, and spacious and convenient for its occupants. It is an object of this invention to provide such a craft, which is designed for pleasure use, fishing, or a like recreational activity, and which has a strong, lightweight, and water-tight construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a water craft or boat construction of the character indicated, which comprises a plurality of flat deck plates, adapted to be structurally connected by water-tight joints to form a raft structure and supported on floats or pontoons.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a water craft or boat construction of the character indicated, which includes storage compartments and seating structure for the convenience of the occupants.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a broken perspective view of the pontoon boat construction of the present invention, with some portions shown in section and others omitted for sake of clarity in illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pontoon boat construction of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, of a deck plate used in the boat construction of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by line 55 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in 3,426,716 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 section, of one of the floats or pontoon assemblies used in the boat construction of the present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a deck plate support member and pontoon assembly tie rod used in the boat construction of the present invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the boat construction of the present invention is generally indicated by the referrence numeral 10.

The boat construction 10 is in the nature of a raft, and includes a generally flat deck structure 12, constructed from individually, structurally joined deck plates 14, supported on buoyant pontoon or float assemblies 16 and 18.

Each of the deck plates 14 is formed from a lightweight metal, such as aluminum, or alternately, can be molded from fiberglass, and is generally rectangular in top plan. The deck plates 14 are also hollow, resulting in a further reduction in weight, and are trapezoidal in cross-section, as shown clearly in FIGURE 4. In order to strengthen and rigidify each deck plate 14, the hollow interior thereof is supplied with a corrugated aluminum sheet 20. The corrugated sheet 20 has peaks and valleys extending between upper and lower surfaces of deck plate 14.

The opposed lateral edges 22 and 24 of each deck plate 14 are provided with depending flanges 26 and 28, respectively. Flanges 26 and 28 are generally semi-circular in cross-section and extend along the entire length of lateral edges 22 and 24. As shown in FIGURE 4, flanges 26 and 28 open in opposite radial directions, and are used as described hereinafter to join adjacent deck plates 14 together.

Each deck plate 14 is also provided with oppositely opening clips 30 and 32, which are Z-shaped in crosssection and are disposed in spaced relation on the top surface of the deck plate. Clips 30 and 32 extend perpendicular to lateral edges 22 and 24, and as shown in FIGURE 2, the top leg of each clip is spaced from the top surface of deck plate 14, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. The bottom leg of each clip is welded or otherwise secured to the deck surface.

Each of the pontoon assemblies 16 and 18, which support and carry the deck '12 are of identical construction, and accordingly, reference will be had only to pontoon assembly 16; it being understood that the identical elements are provided for in pontoon assembly 18.

As shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6, pontoon assembly 16 comprises an elongated member 33, cut from a buoyant material such as Styrofoam. The member 33 has a generally rectangular cross-section, but an arcuate bottom surface. The opposite ends 34 and 36 of buoyant member 33 are also curved, as shown clearly in FIGURES l and 5.

Buoyant member 33 is secured to a support plate generally designated by the numeral 38, and which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section. L-shaped support plate 38 has a long leg 40 which is adapted to abut the top surface of buoyant member 33 and is coextensive therewith throughout its length. The short leg 42 of support leg 38 is adapted to abut the inner side of buoyant member 33 and is also coextensive therewith throughout its length.

Depending from the center of leg 40 of support leg 38, at spaced points along its length, are integrally connected L-shaped brackets 44. The short leg 46 of bracket 44 has 3 a hole 47 drilled therethrough. A nut 48 is welded above the hole 47. A wedge-shaped brace 52 extends through the top of long leg 50 of bracket 44 and is welded to legs 40 and 42 of support plate 38.

In assembling pontoon assembly 16, buoyant member 33 is provided with cut-outs at the location of brackets 44 and braces 52, as seen for example in FIGURE 2 at 54, and the buyonat member is moved vertically into abutment with the legs of support plate 38. A clamp plate 56, shaped to complement the arcuate bottom of buoyant member 33, is then disposed in abutment with the bottom surface of buoyant member 33. Clamp plate 56 includes an opening in alignment with hole 47 in leg 46 of bracket 44, through which a countersunk fastener 58 will cause clamp plate 56 to clamp buoyant member 33 against leg 40 of support plate 38.

The various brackets, support plates and clamping plates of the pontoon assemblies are formed from lightweight metal, such as aluminum, or other lightweight material, such as molded fiberglass.

Secured at spaced locations along the short leg 42 of support plate 38 of each pontoon assembly are channelshaped brackets 70, opening upwardly to form a pocket 72. The center of each bracket 70 is cut out to form a U- shaped Window 74.

A tie bar assembly 76 including a hollow rectangular lightweight metallic beam 78 is adapted to have its opposite ends disposed in the pockets 72 in opposed brackets 70 on pontoon assemblies 16 and 18 to connect the assemblies together. The ends of each beam 78 are provided with rectangular plates 80 and 82 slidably received within pockets 72 in a pair of opposed brackets, and the beam 78 projects outwardly through the U-shaped window 74.

Integrally secured, by welding or the like, to the top of each beam 78 is a split cylindrical tube 84, having an opening 86 providing access to the interior thereof.

Welded at spaced locations along the long leg 40 of the support plates 38 of each pontoon assembly, in axial alignment with tube 84 are split cylindrical tubes 60, having an opening 62 into the interior thereof. Depending flanges 26 and 28 on adjacent deck plates 14, having complemental cross-sections, are placed through openings 62 and 86 and snapped into engagement with the interior wall of aligned tubes 60 (on pontoon assembly 16), 84, and 60 (on pontoon assembly 18), to connect the deck plates to the pontoon assemblies. As shown in FIGURE 5, adjacent deck plates 14 each have a flange 26 facing a flange 28 in engagement with approximately one-half the interior walls of aligned tubes 60, 84, and 60.

In order to render the joint thus formed water-tight and to further secure deck plates 14 to the pontoon assemblies 16 and 18, a length of extruded rubber stock 64, having a circular cross-section, is pulled tight at its ends in order to reduce its cross-section until it can pass through openings 62 and 86 in aligned tubes 60, 86 and 60. Once it is passed into the interior of tubes 60, 86 and 60, the tension on its ends is relieved, allowing it to expand and fill the interior of the tubes 60, 86 and 60, rendering the interior water-tight and clamping adjacent facing flanges 26 and 28 of adjacent deck plates 14 to the interior wall of the tubes.

In order to further secure pontoon assemblies 16 and 18 to deck plates 14, vertical studs 88 are connected to leg 40 of support plate 38, as shown in FIGURE 5. The studs 88 extend through openings 90 in deck plates 14 and are connected thereto by nuts 92.

Some of the studs 88 also extend through the lower flanges of channel-shaped beams 94 and 96, which run the length of boat construction 10, and fasten the beams to the deck structure 12.

Upstanding walls 102 and 104, defining a center beam for rigidifying the craft, are each provided with L-shaped feet or brackets 106 and 108 spaced along their length which are slid under the upper legs of facing Z-shaped clips 30 and 32, spaced along deck plates 14. The space between walls 102 and 104 is divided into a number of compartments 110, 112, 114 by partition walls 116, 118 and 120, which provide storage space for various articles, such as fishing equipment, etc. Partition walls 116, 118 and 120 also rigidity the walls 102 and 104. The front of walls 102 and 104 terminate in anchor plates 122 and 124 which are bolted to a beam 98. The other end of walls 102 and 104 are similarly secured (not shown) to a beam 100.

Beams 98 and 100 are integrally secured by welding or the like to the first and last tie bar beam 78, respectively, and are also bolted at their ends, as shown at 103, to the pontoon assemblies. Walls 102, 104 and beams 98, 100 rigidify the craft and prevent the pontoon assemblies and deck plates from twisting or working loose in rough water.

In order to provide a seat on the boat construction, a foam rubber cushion 126 can be mounted on a board 128 and supported upon the upper edges of walls 102 and 104. A stop member 130 between the ends of walls 102 and 104 prevents longitudinal movement of cushion 126.

Further cushions 132 can also be provided, but when not in use can be inverted to enable board 128, supporting it, to close compartments 110, 112 and 114.

Beams 94 and 96 are provided with spaced sockets 134 along their length. These sockets can be used to support a guard rail, if one is desired.

It will thus be seen that I have designed a sturdy, lightweight, water-tight boat construction, which is simple in construction and economical to assemble, but is spacious and convenient for its occupants. While a specific embodiment of my invention has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boat construction comprising a pair of spaced pontoon assemblies, each pontoon assembly including an elongated buoyant member, tie means between said buoyant members for connecting said pontoon assemblies and maintaining their spaced relation, a deck structure, said deck structure including a plurality of generally flat deck plates supported on said buoyant members in substantially abutting relation, each deck plate including arcuate flanges depending from opposed edges thereof, and means on said buoyant members for receiving said flanges in complemental snap engagement.

2. A boat construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said arcuate flanges depending from the opposed edges of said deck plates open in opposite directions, said flange-receiving means on said buoyant members receiving the arcuate flanges on adjacent deck plates in facing relation opening towards each other, and means within said flange-receiving means for clamping said facing flanges on said deck plates to said flange-receiving means.

3. A boat construction in accordance with claim 2, wherein said clamping means includes distensible rubber stock expanded to fill said flange-receiving means.

4. A boat construction in accordance with claim 1, including a storage compartment on said deck structure.

5. A boat construction in accordance with claim 1, including seat means on said deck structure.

6. A boat construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said deck plates is hollow, and corrugated sheet material fills the interior thereof.

7. A boat construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein said tie means includes pairs of aligned brackets spaced along the facing sides of said buoyant members, and tie rods removably supported by and between a pair of aligned brackets.

8. A boat construction in accordance with claim 7,

wherein said tie rods include means on their upper surfaces for receiving the flanges on said buoyant members in complemental snap engagement, said flange-receiving means on said tie rods being in axial coalignment with the flange-receiving means on said buoyant members.

9. A boat construction in accordance with claim 8, wherein said arcuate flanges depending from the opposed edges of said deck plates open in opposite directions, said flange-receiving means on said buoyant members and tie rods receiving the arcuate flanges on adjacent deck plates in facing relation opening towards each other, and means within said flange-receiving means for clamping said facing flanges on said deck plates to said flange-receiving means, the clamping means including distensible r-ubber stock expanded to fill said flange-receiving means.

10. A boat construction in accordance with claim 9, including a pair of upright spaced walls on said deck References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,012 4/ 1956' Bridges. 2,876,726 3/1959 Robishaw 114--0.5 3,045,263 7/1962 Blachly 114--61 XR ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 114-.5 

